Mexican Writer Juan Villoro: "It Is a Shock to See Brazil Revolt Against Football"

06/17/2014 - 09h24

A football fan and a sporting journalist, the novelist Juan Villoro considers the upcoming match between Brazil and Mexico an opportunity for self-reflection about the current political sceneries both countries are currently living in.

"I don't know whether a World Cup would motivate Mexicans to criticise the government or the model of governance we follow. It is very beneficial that this is happening in Brazil. I believe that in Mexico we would not be able to switch off from the partying and euphoria", he told Folha.

"We were used to thinking of Brazil as Fifa's accomplice, and this has now changed." Villoro is packing his bags to attend the upcoming Literary Festival at Paraty this July, and is frustrated he was not able to travel earlier, in time for the World Cup.

"Mexican newspapers are out of money. I would have had to do the coverage of the event for a television channel, the media channels that can afford the costs nowadays. Mexican TV stations are terrible, it wouldn't be possible to cover the World Cup to the right standards."

Villoro says that the World Cup has enticed Mexicans to compare the infrastructure between the two countries. "The fact that you are experiencing problems at airports and overcrowding in the hospitality sector makes us believe we could tackle the task in a better way."

In the writer's opinion comparisons have become more popular since the conservative government of Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) who used Brazil as a parameter for measuring development and the growth of the country.

"We initially felt shock when we saw a country that usually is the champion and identifies so much with football so revolted with it. At the same time it is as if we were adjusting the image we have of Brazil. It isn't only about Carnival and happiness."

OPTIMISM

From a football point of view, Villoro believes that Mexico's national team has improved since the playoffs, when they only qualified thanks to a result by the US national team.

"We have a lot of respect for Brazil although we have also harvested some good results in the last few years, like in the sub-17 championship and in the Olympics. We are slightly optimistic."

He adds that the victory over Cameroons, in their opening game, was a boost in confidence. "It would be much harder if we had to beat Brazil in order to qualify. Now, a draw could be enough", he concludes.

Mexico's Congress will go through a series of debates for the approval of a reform in the energy and telecommunications sector, in the upcoming weeks. Villoro reckons that the government has used the World Cup opportunistically so as not to make public a debate about these matters.

"This isn't good. Reforms will be approved during the tournament and people won't be part of the discussion."

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

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	Alex Cruz/Efe
	Villoro says that the World Cup has enticed Mexicans to compare the infrastructure between the two countries